Avelino attended Loyola Marymount University and made the film with many LMU alumni,[2] including producer Ted Kroeber.

The central idea came from a "Column One" article in the Los Angeles Times.

In addition, the writers were influenced by a friend from the Chicago school district who related stories about how students brought guns to school, not to use them on campus, but because of the dangerous neighborhoods they live in or walk through to attend classes.

Avelino was very appreciative of the directorial advice of Forest Whitaker, one of the film's producers.

The site's critics consensus reads, "Despite its intriguing premise, this earnest anti-gun polemic is too melodramatic to resonate.